[Hiring] Senior Director, Drug Development Services @ICON plc

Role Description

As a strategic Cardiometabolic expert, you will join our Drug Development & Consulting team in a highly visible, client-facing role. This position offers the opportunity to act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders across the industry, including CEOs, CMOs, and other Cardiometabolic Therapeutic Area Heads. You will deliver bespoke, asset-centric solutions while shaping Cardiometabolic drug development strategies across the full lifecycle.

This is a consultative and advisory role where you will serve as a key scientific partner to both external clients and internal teams. You will play a critical role in pre-sales activities, proposal strategy, and long-term partnership development within Cardiometabolic.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic Cardiometabolic drug development design, delivering tailored, asset-focused solutions across liver diseases including MASLD/MASH, alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, and other chronic and rare liver conditions like PBC, PSC, PFIC.
• Own end-to-end protocol development, including design, scientific review, and evaluation for Cardiometabolic clinical trials across Phases I–IV.
• Partner directly with senior client stakeholders (e.g., CMO, TA Heads, Clinical Development leadership) to provide expert guidance on Cardiometabolic development strategy and data interpretation.
• Act as scientific and strategic lead in proposal development, study strategy, and bid defense activities within Cardiometabolic.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Cardiometabolic key opinion leaders (KOLs), advisory boards, and relevant regulatory authorities.
• Contribute to the development of Cardiometabolic-focused service offerings, supporting innovation and growth in liver disease drug development capabilities.
• Provide training, mentorship, and thought leadership in Cardiometabolic to internal teams and external partners.
• Participate in portfolio reviews, governance discussions, and scientific oversight of Cardiometabolic programs.
• Support operational teams with high-level scientific input, including investigator meetings and Cardiometabolic-specific study discussions.
• Represent the organization at Cardiometabolic congresses and scientific forums to promote clinical excellence and scientific leadership.

Qualifications

• Deep, recognized expertise in Cardiometabolic and liver disease drug development.
• Strong understanding of Cardiometabolic clinical trial design, biomarkers, endpoints (e.g., fibrosis staging, histologic and non-invasive markers), and evolving therapeutic landscapes (e.g., MASLD/MASH, alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), cirrhosis, immuno-Cardiometabolic approaches and antiviral therapies).
• Proven ability to operate in a strategic, client-facing, consultative environment within pharmaceutical or clinical research settings.
• Experience engaging and influencing senior scientific and clinical stakeholders across industry and academia.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex Cardiometabolic data into clear, actionable development insights.
• Collaborative, global mindset with strong cross-functional leadership capability.
• MD required, ideally with specialization or substantial clinical/research experience in Cardiometabolic diseases.

Requirements

• 20-40% travel (domestic and international).
• Opportunity to work in a highly visible, impact-driven role shaping the future of Cardiometabolic drug development.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and performance-related incentives.
• Health and wellbeing programmes including medical, dental, and vision coverage where applicable.
• Retirement and pension plans.
• Life assurance and disability coverage.
• Employee assistance programmes and wellbeing resources.
• Learning and development opportunities through structured training and career pathways.
• Benefits may vary depending on role and location.

Company Description

ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation united by a mission to bring new medicines and treatments to patients faster. As a values-driven organisation, integrity, collaboration, agility, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work and interact with each other, customers, patients, and suppliers.